Locomotive-tender.



N. M. LOWER.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.1E. 1916. 1,219,334, Patented Mar.13,1917.

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a 'Il I' N. M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE TENDER.

APPLICATON FILED 1AN.1819I6.

1,21 9,834. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHED' 2.

Nl M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE TENDER. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I8, I9I6.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

nyenn- MM. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE TENDER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.18.L9L6,

1,21 9,334. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N. M. LOWER.

LOCOMOTIVE TENDER. APPLICATION H LEb 1AN.1B.1916.

1,21 9,334. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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NATHAN M. LOWER, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

LOCOMOTIVE-TENDER.

Application led January 18, 1916. Serial No. 72,692.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, NATHAN M. LOWER. a citizen of the United States, and resident :f Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Tenders, of which the following is a specification and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.l

The invention relates particularly to that type of locomotive tenders in which, in addition to a fuel bin at the forward end of the tender, there is provided a fuel deck on top of the water tank, and back of the slope sheet forming the rear wall of the bin.

The object of the invention is to provide power means in tenders of this type for moving the fuel forwardly on the deck to the slope sheet, down which it may be moved byV gravity, or, if necessary, by pusher mechanism of some approved form.

Further objects of the invention are to provide locomotive tenders with a coalpushing motor which will be compact in form, well protected from injury by fuel as the latter is loaded onto the tender, and which shall be so controlled that normally it will not be under the inliuence of fluid pressure.

The invention consists in a'structure such as is hereinafter described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of the tender, partly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar detail showing the motor in section and drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the tender;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal c entral section of the motor controlling valve;

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section, of the valve mechanism,

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the cylinder being retracted,

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse vertical section through the tender deck, showing the motor in end elevation,

Fig. 9 is a detail transverse vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the motor,

Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal central vertical section of the tender showing a modified form of construction,

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 11.

Specication of Letters Patent.

The body of the tender is provided 4 side walls 10, 11, and a water tank 12. The slope sheet' 13, forming the rear wall of the fuel bin, extends at its lower end well forward in. the tender. The side walls 10, 11, of the tender extend a considerable distance `above the top plate 14 of the tank 12, and

at or near the rearward end of the tank there is a vertical transverse wall 15, thereby affording substantial fuel-carrying space on top of the tank.

In tenders of this type it has been necessary for the locomotive fireman, after emptying the -fuel bin proper, to shovel the coal on the top of the tank down into t-he bin to bring it within his reach in stoking the furnace. This not only materially increases the already laborious hand-firing operation, but may interrupt the feeding of the furnace at a critical time when it is necesary to keep the fire-box well supplied lwith uel.

In addition to the parts of the tender already described, all of which are old, the improved tender is provided with a motor, generally designated by the numeral 16, located upon and secured to the top plate 14 of the tank, and suitable fuel pushers actuated by this motor for advancingvthe fuel on the deck over the tank to the slope sheet 13, down which it may slide by gravity or may be pushed by suitable mechanical appliances.

VVhi'le the motor 16 may be of any suitable type, there is here shown as a preferred form a reciprocating motor comprising a stationary piston 17, rigidly secured by means of a tubular shaft 18 to a back plate 19, secured to the plate 14; and a reciprocating cylinder 2O inclosing the vpiston and sliding upon the shaft 18, its rearward end being provided with a suitable stuffing box 21, the cylinder also resting upon a guideway 22 projecting forwardly from the plate 19. A tube 23, located within the shaft 18, is secured at'oneend to the piston 17, and at the other end in a plug 24 fitted within the rearward end of the shaft 18.

While the construction described provides a simple and cheap arrangement for leading steam to vand from the piston, any other which accomplishes this purpose may be substituted; it being important only that there be two independent ducts leading to the piston.

with

the tubular shaft 18, and the tube 23, and

are preferably led thereto through a conand hence in cross-section is substantially U-shaped. The front head of the cylinder ,is provided with a central instanding boss 31 to receive the chamber in the face of the piston, and the rear head 32 of the cylinder is provided with a central cavity 33 to receive the central enlargement 34 of the piston. p

The boss 31 makes a substantially close lit with the piston cavity, and the enlargement 34 of the piston makes a similar fit with the cavity 33, thereby providing for the cushioning of the motor at the end of each stroke. The ports 28 and 29 lead, respectively, from the tubes 18 and 23 through the rear and front faces of the piston 17, thereby providing for the complete exhaust of the steam from the chamber and the annular chamber surrounding the boss 31, and for supplying steam to these chambers for the commencement of the next stroke. r

The pipes 25, 26, lead forwardly under the tank 12 and upwardly through a conduit 35 through the forward end of the tank'12 to a controlling and manually operated valve located within convenient reach of the fireman when in the engine cab, and generally designated in Figs. 1 and 3 by the numeral 36. This valve constitutes a further improvement in locomotiwe tenders, and is applicable as well to the tender forming the subject of thisl specification as to tenders of other types provided with poweractuated'coal pushers. The load imposed upon the motor when the tender is carrying the' full supply of fuel `is excessive, and is apt to temporarily stall the motor. When under such circumstances power pressure is continued on the motor, there is apt to l occur a sudden forward impulse when the vload is partially relieved, with danger of in]uring the operator. To avoid this dificulty provision is made for the automatic return of the valve to central position when released by the operator, and when in this position pressure is equalized in both ends of the cylinder preferably by r ntting off the steam and opening both of the ppes 25, 26, to the atmosphere.

A desirable 'and operative form of valve for performing this function is shown, and` comprises a cylindrical casing 37, having nipples 38, 39, adjacent each end to which are attached, respectively, the pipes 25., 26; a central nipple 40, to which a steam pipe 41 is attached; and an end nipple-12 to which the exhaust pipe 43 is connected. The cylinder is preferably provided with a Vlining 44, ported for communication with A tubular valve 47, open at each end, g

reciprocates within the lining 44,. and is contracted or reduced in diameter mtermediate of its ends to provide an annular chamber 48 which is in constant communication with the steam nipple.' The length of the valve is such that when in central position both of the yannular chambers 45, 46, are uncovered to the nipples 38, 39. Both ends of the valve being open, the nipples 38, 39, are thus both in communication with the exhaust nipple 42 when the valve is centered, and consequently steam is exhausted from both ends of the motor cylinder 20.

The valve 47 is 4automatically centered by springs 49, 50, reacting between its ends and the ends of the casing 37 The valve is provided with a stem 51, leading through the head 52 which closes the end of the cylinder 37 opposite the exhaust nipple, a suitable stulfng box being provided. The valve yis controlled by a handle 53, pivoted to a bracket 54, here shown as extending from the head 52,-the handle being connected to the stem 51 by means of links 55, 56, and a pin 57. The shifting of the valve 47 in either direction from the central position will open communication from the steam pipe toone of the pipes 25, 26, leaving the other in communication with the exhaust pipe, and upon the release of the handle 53 the valve is automatically centered, thereby not only stopping the motor but opening both ends of its cylinder to the exhaust.

Suitable fuel pushers are -associated with p the motor, and as shown consist of a pair of heads 57a, 58, projecting laterally from the head of the cylinder 20, and, if desired, cast integrally therewith, as plainly shown in Fig. 8, each of these heads being provided with asloping back, as shown at 59, in order that upon the backward stroke of the motor it may easily slide under the mass of fuel. LA similarly shaped head 60 extends forwardly from the heads 57a, 58, and is shown as being hinged thereto.4 These fuelvengaging elements may, however, take various forms; and the same is true of other details of the device. l

In service the operator may give the motor a full forward stroke, in which case fall of the fuel immediately in front of the head 60 will be pushed forward 'to the top of the slope sheet, and the fuel in front of the heads57, 58, will be advanced to a position to be engaged by thehead 60 on its next advance stroke. The motor may then be given a complete reverse stroke,

moving the several heads backwardly under the mass of fuel. (lr the operator may give the motor a succession of partial advance strokes, thus throwing down only so much fuel as will meet his immediate requirements. After each of these partial strokes the valve will be centered to open both ends of the cylinder to the exhaust, bringing it to rest and preventing any tendency to a movement in either direction due to a diminution of the load by reason of the shifting of the fuel.

ln Figs. ll and l2 is shown a different form of construction, in which the coal pusher mechanism is applied to the slope sheet 13 of thevfuel bin and comprises a motor 16 of the same form as the motor shown in igs. l 2 and 3. A plate Gl is preferably secured to the slope sheet 13, and extends along the flat bottom (32 of the fuel bin, the motor 16 being mounted upon this plate and located at the upper end of the slope sheet. rl`he motor is provided with pusher heads 5?, 58 and 60, shown as of the same form as those of the construction already described, the forward pusher head traveling forwardly over the Hat bottom of the fuel bin.

ln devices the general character of that shown in Figs. ll and l2, as heretofore made, it has been found necessary to locate the motor practically entirely above the Water tank, and as a consequence it has been 1n the way of the spout used in filling the tank. rlflie form of motor here shown may be applied as illustrated, so rthat it does not extend above the coal bin.

l claim as my inventionl. .ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, and fuel advancing means for moving the fuel from the deck to the bin.

2. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a. fuel pusher reciprocable over the deck, and a meter for actuating the pusher.

3. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a fuel pusher reciprocable over the deck, and a motor located on the deck for actuating the pusher.

4. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a fuel pusher reciprocable over the deck, and a motcrforv actuating the pusher, such motor comprising a stationary piston and a reciprocating cylinder.

ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a motor located on the deck and comprising a piston and cylinder, one thereof being reciprocable, and ushers connected with the reciprocable mem er for advancing fuel over the deck toward the bin.

6. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a motor located on 'the deck and comprising a piston and cylinder, one thereof being reciprocable, the reciprocable meniber having lateral extensions for pushing the fuel over the deck toward the bin.

7. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a` motor located on the deck and comprising a stationary piston, and a reciprocable cylinder, the cylinder head being laterally extended to provide pushers for advancing fuel over the deck.

8. In a. locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a motor located on the deck and comprising a piston and cylinder, one thereof being reciprocable, and pushers connected with the reciprocable member, and a pusher forward of and attached to the first-named pushers, for advancing the fuel over the deck.

9. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a motor located on the deck and comprising a piston and cylinder, one thereof being reciprocable, the reciprocalole member having lateral extensions, and a pusher forward of and attached to such extensions, the pusher and extensions being adapted to advance fuel over the deck.

l0. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel bin, in combination, a fuel deck back of the bin, a motor located on the deck and comprising a stationary piston, and a reciprocable cylinder, the cylinder head being laterally extended to provide pushers for advancing fuel over the deck, and a pusher forward of and attached to the extensions.

ll. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel h supporting floor, fuel pushing means reciprocable over the floor, areciprocable Huid motor for actuating the pushing means, and means for controlling such motor and adapted normally to provide equal pressure on both faces of its piston.

12. ln a locomotive tender having a fuel supporting floor, fuel pushing means reciprocable over the Hoor, a reciprocable fluid motor for actuating the pushing lll@ means, such motor being provided with a controlling valve adapted to normally maintain a balanced pressure on both faces of the motor piston.

13. In a locomotive tender having a fuel supporting floor, fuelpushing means reciprocable over the floor, a reciprocable fluid motor for actuating the pushing means, such motor being provided With a controlling valve, such valve being ported to conneet the tvvo ends of the motor cylinder with a pressure and an exhaust pipe in alternation when in its extreme positions and to connect bot-h ends of the cylinder with 'the exhaust when in its central position.

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14. In alocomotive tender having a fuel supporting floor, fuel pushing means reciprocable over the floor, a reciprocable fluid motor for actuating the pushing means, such motor being provided with a controlling valve, such valve being ported to connect the two ends of the motor cylinder with a pressure and an exhaust pipe in alternation when in its extreme positions and to connect both ends of the cylinder with the exhaust when in its central position, and

means for returning the valve to and main-` termediate of its ends adaptedto constantly register with the pressure port, the valve being arranged to alternately bring the first two ports into communication with the pressure and exhaust ports, and means for automatically centering the valve.

16. In a locomotive tender having a fuel supporting floor, fuel pushing means reciprocable over 'the floor, a reciprocable fluid motor for actuating the pushing means, a valve forcontrolling the motor, such valve comprising a cylindrical casing having a lateral port adjacent to each of its ends and communicating with the motor, a pressure port'` intermediate of such two ports and an exhaust port in one of itsends, and a tubuvalve for controlling the motor,` such valve comprising a cvlindricalcasing having a lateral port adjacent to each of its ends and communicating with the motor, a pres. sure port intermediate of such two ports and an exhaust port in-one of its ends, and a tubular valve reciprocable in the casing, the first two ports -being uncovered when the valve is'in central position, the valve having a lateral cavity, in constant communication yvith the pressure port and being adapted to register with either of the firstnamed ports, and balanced springs reacting between the ends of the valve and abutments in the casing.

18. In a locomotive tender, in combination, a fuel supporting floor, a reciprocable motor mounted thereon and having a stationary piston and a movable cylinder, the piston having a central dome and the piston heads being of complementarv form to receive such dome, and fuel pushers extending laterally from the cylinder.

19. In combination, a locomotive tender adapted to carryTJ fuel, a motor comprislng l a stationary piston and a reciprocable cylinder, and fuel-advancing meansattached to the cylinder.

NATHAN M. LOWER.v 

